In this Aug. 15, 2012 photo, internally displaced Syrians at the Syrian side of the Bab Al-Salam crossing border wait to cross to one of the refugee camps in Turkey, on the outskirts of Aleppo, Syria. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra, File)

(Newser)
–
Not only was August Syria's deadliest month yet, it was also the month that saw the highest number of refugees fleeing the country since the uprising began. Some 103,416 people "sought asylum in neighboring countries" last month, according to the UN, bringing the total number of registered asylum seekers to 235,300, the BBC reports. The true number is likely much higher: Jordan says it alone has taken in 183,000 people, with about 1,000 refugees arriving daily. Also:

In a sign of the toll the uprising has taken on Assad's forces, thousands of former soldiers have been called up from the reserves since July, several military sources tell Reuters. "There is a shortage of men. A lot of fighters have been killed, and we have desertions," explains one officer. But many reservists aren't reporting for duty. As one puts it: "We have two choices: Stay and kill fellow Syrians, or desert, and be on the run from military courts."

The situation in Aleppo is reportedly bad, with supplies dwindling and the Red Cross unable to get reinforcements to many parts of the city. But Red Cross chief Peter Maurer today met with Bashar al-Assad, and the AP reports that Assad told him the group is welcome to operate on the ground in the country as long as it remains "neutral and independent."

Philippine Foreign Minister Stress Philippines Support to Syria Philippines' Foreign Minister Albert del Rosario on Tuesday stressed that the Philippines will continue its support to Syria in international forums. Meeting Deputy Prime Minister , Foreign and Expatriates Minister Walid al-Moallem, the Philippine foreign Minister expressed his country's solidarity with Syria to come out of the crisis through a political solution that meets the aspirations of the Syrian people and preserves its security and stability. In turn, Minister al-Moallem stressed Syria's stance which calls for halting violence from all sides, stopping foreign interference in its affairs and launching a comprehensive dialogue that would help active participation in building the future of Syria. Al-Moallem briefed his counterpart on what Syria faces regarding foreign interferences by certain countries which arm, fund and harbor the armed terrorist groups.

AlexanderArgentina

Sep 4, 2012 9:46 AM CDT

President al-Assad: Syria Welcomes Red Cross Humanitarian Operations in Syria as Long as it Works Independently and Neutrally President Bashar al-Assad on Tuesday said Syria welcomes humanitarian operations carried out by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on the Syrian ground as long as it works independently and neutrally," The President's speech came during his meeting with Head of the ICRC Peter Maurer. Talks during the meeting dealt with the standing cooperation between the ICRC and the Syrian government and setting the appropriate mechanisms for enhancing this cooperation. For his part, Maurer expressed appreciation over the Syrian government's cooperation with the committee, hailing the bridge of confidence built between the two sides. Deputy Foreign and Expatriates Minister Dr. Fayssal Mikdad, Director of Organizations Department at the Foreign and Expatriates Ministry Hussam-Eddin Ala and Head of the Syrian Arab Red Crescent Abdul Rahman al-Attar attended the meeting. Last September, President al-Assad received the former head of ICRC and stressed the necessity of the committee to directly inspect the reality of the situation in Syria ,particularly in light of the media distortion of the facts. President al-Assad welcomed the work of the Committee as long as it is independent, works objectively and away from politicization.

AlexanderArgentina

Sep 4, 2012 9:45 AM CDT

Authorities Eliminate Four Top Wanted Terrorists in Daraa Countryside The competent authorities clashed last night with a group of armed terrorists who tried to attack a food supply vehicle belonging to the law-enforcement forces in Maraba village in Daraa countryside. The authorities eliminated terrorist Zaher al-Khalaf al-Khalif who is the leader of the 'Armor of the South' terrorist group. Meanwhile, a source in the province told SANA reporter that an army unit clashed with an armed terrorist group in the city of Inkhel and killed three terrorists. China: Only Correct Way to Solving Crisis in Syria is Political Solution China reiterated on Tuesday that the only correct way to solving the crisis in Syria is the political solution, stressing rejection of any foreign intervention in Syria. Reuters News Agency quoted Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hong Lei as saying at a periodical press conference in Beijing that China has always believed that the only correct way to solving the crisis in Syria is the political solution, pointing out that the situation is becoming worse; however, the worse the situation gets, the need for union becomes more urgent. He added that china rejects armed intervention in the crisis in Syria.